Charlottetown MP Shawn Murphy is warning Islanders there are still long waits for passports.

Murphy told CBC News Friday that some people think because the March break rush is over, the processing time has returned to normal, but that's not the case.

"The delay is still extremely long. We're up to about 12 weeks now," he said.

"We don't know the exact date but I believe it's July of next year, the law is that anyone driving to the United States will require a passport. So this is something that people should be thinking of right now, not next April."

U.S Ambassador David Wilkins said last month he believes that the more stringent passport controls will come into effect before the end of 2008, when the Bush presidency comes to an end.

Murphy added that people thinking of summer trips out of the country need to apply for passports immediately.

People flying to the United States have required a passport since Jan. 23. The deadline led to a rush of passport applications and a backlog in issuing the documents.